SLIAC Game of the Week:
At a Glance This week's Game of the Week is a softball doubleheader between Iowa Wesleyan University and Webster University. Iowa Wesleyan is looking to snap a six-game losing streak to Webster while Webster is looking to stop a five-game skid. The two teams will meet on Wednesday in St. Louis, Mo. with first pitch at 3 p.m.
|
|||||||||||||
Iowa Wesleyan University 'TIGERS' Iowa Wesleyan is off to a 15-6 start this season, already the most wins in a season since 2014 when they had 17. They need just three more wins to set a new high since joining the SLIAC. Iowa Wesleyan is 6-2 in the SLIAC, tied for 3rd place in the standings and have won six straight. They are hitting .355 as a team and have scored 141 runs this season while maintaining the league's best team E.R.A. with a 3.12 mark. Much of their success is due to the arrival of junior Morgan Christner. Christner is hitting .455 with 27 runs batted in while also holding a 9-3 pitching record with a SLIAC best 112 strikeouts. Not to be overlooked are Allison Daum (.438) and Emma McDaniel (.413) who keep the lineup rolling. Kayla Ford is hitting .391 and has a team-high 25 runs scored while Ashley Machholz is hitting .385. Alex Eyman is batting .356 with 22 RBI. |
|||||||||||||
Webster University 'GORLOKS' Webster is 4-18 overall and 1-7 in the SLIAC this season. They have dropped five straight after taking game one of a doubleheader against Blackburn. The Gorloks are hitting .266 as a team and have scored 74 times in their 22 games this season. They carry a 6.67 earned-run average into the week and will face Fontbonne on Tuesday before their meeting against Iowa Wesleyan. Amanda Kraus is hitting .423 this season, in limited duty to pace the Gorloks offense. Brienna Sheperd is batting .326 with 6 RBI and has a .383 on-base percentage. Taylor Jackson (.298) and Sheyla Iniguez (.296) are a pair of freshman that have shown bright spots already this spring. Abby Burroughs has struggled to find open spots with a .191 average but leads the team with 10 RBI and 3 home runs. Freshman Arianna Arias has thrown a team-high 48 innings this year with Kaitlyn Johnson and Breelyn Craig following in the rotation. |
|||||||||||||
Last Series |
Game Notes
- Webster leads the all-time series against Iowa Wesleyan 7-3 including winning the last six games.
- Iowa Wesleyan has already totaled six wins in conference play this year, their third-highest total since joining the league. They had a record 9 wins in 2014 and picked up 7 in 2017.
- Webster is under the direction of first-year head coach Katie Griffith.
- Iowa Wesleyan's Morgan Christner is currently leading the SLIAC pitching triple crown; leading the league in E.R.A., Wins, and Strikeouts.
- Abby Burroughs not only leads Webster with three home runs this season but is 5th in the SLIAC.